From Merchant to Monk: A Journey of Awakening

This is a record of an interview with Nuhaton Tis, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life during the Tang Dynasty, approximately 1,200 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on June 17, 2018.

Venerable Fa Jing: Please, Venerable, accept this interview with compassion.

Venerable Nuhaton Tis speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the Venerable ranked number 1,130, known as Nuhaton Tis, with the Dharma name Shi Daoheng. Long ago, I was a merchant from the Americas. During the Tang Dynasty in China, I spent several months sailing across the vast Pacific Ocean, setting foot on Chinese soil for the very first time. I carried with me a massive quantity of precious goods and cargo, intending to conduct a grand trade deal. The success of this venture was to determine the entire course of my later life; I had gambled every single cent of my wealth on this one transaction. I was brimming with confidence, fully convinced that I would make a fortune and return to the Americas a wealthy man.

A Sudden Descent into Darkness

After enduring countless perils at sea, I finally arrived in China. I reached one of the most bustling towns of the era and checked into an inn to rest before the big deal the following day. After months of suffering on the ship, I was finally able to lie down on a proper bed. I washed my body clean and fell into a deep, heavy sleep.

In the midst of my dreams, I suddenly felt something strange. When I regained consciousness, I found my entire body bound tightly. I had been thrown into a dark, windowless room. My mouth was gagged with a cloth, making it impossible to cry out for help. I was not alone in that dark chamber; several other guests from the inn were trapped there with me.

What on earth was happening? I thought of all my wealth, still sitting in my room at the inn, and my heart began to race with panic and agitation. I kicked the wooden walls with all my might, creating a thunderous noise. I was desperate to escape and reclaim my fortune.

The Island of Despair

No matter how hard I struggled, it was all in vain. Eventually, I collapsed on the floor, gasping for air in total exhaustion. Suddenly, the entire secret chamber began to vibrate, emitting a rhythmic 'clatter, clatter, clatter' sound. I listened intently to the noise; it turned out that the room was actually a compartment on a wooden ship. I, along with the other captives, had been dumped onto a vessel and were being transported out to the open sea.

The ship eventually docked at a desolate, uninhabited island, and we were all abandoned there. I could not understand why I had met such a fate. Was I destined to die on this godforsaken island? In the depths of despair, I contemplated jumping into the ocean to end it all. Suddenly, a calm, steady voice of an old man called out: 'Wait.' I turned around and saw an elderly monk. The kidnappers had also abducted this monk and left him on the island. The monk remained unperturbed, sitting in a calm, meditative posture. I asked him, 'How can you not be angry?' The monk simply replied, 'This is merely a small episode in the journey of life.'

The Wisdom of the Monk

I could not agree with the monk. The wealth that had been stolen was meant to be the foundation of my future; I could not be as indifferent as he was. The monk told me, 'Wealth remains in the world; it has only temporarily left your side. If you throw your life into the sea, you lose both your life and your wealth.' I nodded, finally understanding his point.

No one had ever lived on this island, and no ships ever sailed this way. Some of the others believed we would not survive for more than a few days. The monk told us all, 'Do not dwell on what the future holds; grasp the present moment firmly.' As night fell, the monk led us to gather dry wood from the ground and use stones to kindle a fire. We took turns adding wood throughout the night, surviving our first night on the island. In the days that followed, in order to survive, we began to seek new ways of living. We worked together to build wooden shelters, gathered wild plants, and crafted stone tools. Gradually, we developed a new way of life, and our existence was sustained.

The Path to the Western Pure Land

Day after day, the monk began to give lectures on the island, expounding upon the profound truths of the universe and human life. None of us had ever heard the Buddha’s teachings before, and we were all in awe of the wisdom of the Dharma. The monk was a practitioner of both Chan and Pure Land; he held a deep conviction in the existence of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and taught us all to chant Namo Amituofo to seek rebirth there. The Buddha’s teachings gave us a perspective on life we had never known before. It was then that I truly understood the illusory nature of life. My past attachments were completely useless here; even if I possessed vast wealth, it would have no purpose. I decided to let go of everything and follow the monk to study the Dharma, chanting Namo Amituofo until the end of my life to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

In this pure, secluded place, undisturbed by the dust of the world, I studied the Dharma with a pure heart. I dedicated my entire life to the teachings, never letting the sacred name of 'Namo Amituofo' leave my lips. My pure thoughts continued in succession until I attained the state of Buddha-Recitation Samadhi. A year, then two years passed, and every hair on my body, every pore, was immersed in meditative concentration. I told the monk that if I ever had the chance to return to the secular world, I would surely follow his spirit and propagate the Dharma widely, so that everyone might have the chance to hear this wonderful teaching and eventually seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land, forever leaving the sea of karma.

A Mission of Deliverance

The monk told me that I would certainly achieve my wish. One month later, a ship would pass by, and that would be the time for us to leave the island and begin our work of spreading the Dharma. It happened exactly as he said. A month later, a civilian ship, having encountered strong winds, arrived at our location. Seeing us shouting for help on the shore, they docked to rescue us. We were all brought aboard and finally returned to the mainland.

I followed the monk to a temple, where I soon shaved my head and became a monk, taking the Dharma name Shi Daoheng. I began to travel everywhere, preaching the Buddha’s teachings. The others who had been on the island returned to their respective homes to spread the Dharma, all becoming devoted followers and protectors of the Pure Land Dharma Gate. Many civilians were thus able to hear this wonderful teaching and found a true refuge for their lives. The Buddha’s teachings transformed my destiny, and I dedicated the remainder of my life entirely to the Dharma. When my time came, I sat in a meditative posture upon a rock and achieved rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

I have returned to the human world this time alongside 1,162 other Venerables to help repair the injuries in Practitioner Su’s legs. To assist in the propagation of the Buddha’s teachings, we are determined to ensure that Practitioner Su can walk smoothly. Now, encountering this magnificent Causal Condition, I am able to follow Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du throughout the universe. I cherish every moment of this deliverance work, actively helping beings so they do not continue to revolve according to their karma, enabling them to leave the suffering of the sea of karma forever.

Breaking Through the Barriers of Space

Many practitioners who have studied the heavens deeply become part of the universe upon their passing. Most of them exist within the very planets they frequently studied, while others wander between the nebulae. The entire universe was once a place they explored and yearned for, yet now that they have truly arrived within these celestial bodies, they remain trapped in the same space, still studying the heavens. Even if they exist in higher dimensions, these practitioners who study the heavens are still unable to break through the barriers of space.

Now, under the illumination of the Buddha-light, Practitioner Su carries the sacred name of 'Namo Amituofo' to open the layers of overlapping space. As these spaces are broken, the practitioners finally see Namo Amituofo. Only then do they realize that true practice is not to cling to any Dharma or any form. Once one clings, one falls into the space of attachment, making it difficult to escape. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su, who performs Chao Du for the universe every day, saving these eminent monks and practitioners, helping them one by one to escape their confined spaces. In the future, they will surely be able to propagate the Buddha’s teachings and contribute their strength to saving the world. Namo Amituofo."